Opinion Former Article

Strike action across London's bus network will go ahead because bus operators are refusing to enter into genuine and meaningful negotiations despite collectively posting over £2 billion in profits according to their latest annual accounts.

Unite's regional secretary for London said, Peter Kavanagh said:

"The bus operators have posted billions in profits but they are refusing to enter into genuine and timely negotiations with Unite despite being ordered to by the mayor of London.

"The operators' and TfL's collective failure to act decisively to end the dispute means tomorrow's strike will go ahead. Together the bus companies, TfL and the Olympic Delivery Authority can end this dispute at a stroke if everyone plays their fair part.

"The Olympic Delivery Authority has made money available but now it is up to the bus companies and TfL to step up and play their part.

"Despite the huge profits bus operators have given their workers three years of below inflation pay increases or pay freezes. If the operators shirk their responsibilities now they will sow the seeds of massive anger and frustration across the bus network inevitably leading to strife and industrial action during and way beyond the Olympic Games."

The Olympic Delivery Authority has made £8.3 million available to contribute to funding a £500 Olympic award for bus workers but the money only goes halfway to meeting the workers demands. The mayor of London Boris Johnson has instructed the bus operators to negotiate with Unite but the operators have refused to enter into genuine negotiations.

The latest TfL accounts for the full financial year 2011/12 show a budget surplus of £759 million. The London Olympics is set to come in under its £9.3 billion budget with £476 million of the contingency funding left, according to new government figures.

Every other London transport worker in London is receiving an award to recognise their extra effort over the Olympics. Olympic awards have already been agreed for the following workers:

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